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FR159
La Dombes
Location France, Rhône-Alpes
Central coordinates 5o 1.00' East  46o 2.00' North
IBA criteria A4i, A4iii, B1i, B2, C2, C3, C4, C6
Area 79,800 ha
Altitude 275 - 300m
Year of IBA assessment 2000

Ligue Pour La Protection des Oiseaux



Ornithological information The site holds 20,000 or more waterbirds on passage and in winter, on a regular basis (including Anas platyrhynchos 2,500 (passage), 10,820 (winter); Aythya ferina 6,000 (passage), 9,317 (winter); Fulica atra 6,640 (winter); Vanellus vanellus 8,000 (passage), 3,444 (winter)). Species of global conservation concern that do not meet IBA criteria: Aythya nyroca (passage, wintering); Haliaeetus albicilla (passage, wintering); Aquila clanga (wintering).

Site description The area includes ponds, marshes, wet meadows, deciduous forests, moorlands and arable fields.

Populations of IBA trigger species

Species Season Period Population estimate Quality of estimate IBA Criteria IUCN Category
Gadwall Anas strepera breeding  1997  500-600 breeding pairs  -  A4i, B1i, B2, C3  Least Concern 
Gadwall Anas strepera passage  1997  200-1,100 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata passage  1997  200-800 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Northern Pintail Anas acuta passage  1997  250-600 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina breeding  1997  80-120 breeding pairs  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Red-crested Pochard Netta rufina passage  1997  300 individuals  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Common Pochard Aythya ferina breeding  1997  1,550 breeding pairs  -  B1i, C3  Least Concern 
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis breeding  1997  200-400 breeding pairs  -  A4i, B1i, C3  Least Concern 
White Stork Ciconia ciconia breeding  1997  3-5 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus breeding  1991  20 breeding pairs  -  B2, C6  Least Concern 
Black-crowned Night-heron Nycticorax nycticorax breeding  1991  70-150 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides breeding  1991  1-5 breeding pairs  -  B2  Least Concern 
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea breeding  1991  80-100 breeding pairs  -  B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Little Egret Egretta garzetta breeding  1997  10-50 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Western Marsh-harrier Circus aeruginosus breeding  1991  15-20 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus breeding  1991  10 breeding pairs  -  C6  Least Concern 
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida breeding  1991  200-1,100 breeding pairs  -  A4i, B1i, B2, C2, C6  Least Concern 
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida passage  1991  100-300 individuals  -  B1i, C2  Least Concern 
A4iii Species group - waterbirds winter  1997  20,000 individuals  unknown  A4iii, C4   
A4iii Species group - waterbirds passage  1997  20,000 individuals  unknown  A4iii, C4   

Protected areas

Protected area Designation Area (ha) Relationship with IBA Overlap with IBA (ha)  
LA DOMBES - FR8201635 Habitats Directive 47,656 protected area overlaps with site 42,051  
LA DOMBES - FR8212016 Birds Directive 47,656 protected area overlaps with site 42,051  

Habitats

IUCN habitat Habitat detail Extent (% of site)
Forest Broadleaved deciduous woodland  15%
Shrubland Heathland  7%
Grassland Humid grasslands  18%
Wetlands (inland) Standing freshwater; Water fringe vegetation  11%
Artificial landscapes (terrestrial) Arable land  15%

Land use

Land-use Extent (% of site)
agriculture 70%
fisheries/aquaculture 35%
forestry 20%
hunting 90%
urban/industrial/transport 5%

Management considerations Early mowing and the removal of aquatic vegetation, by burning and cutting in summer, destroys the nests and chicks of rare species. High hunting pressure (including early opening dates) and lead pollution threaten ducks.

Protection status National None International None

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Recommended citation  BirdLife International (2013) Important Bird Areas factsheet: La Dombes. Downloaded from http://www.birdlife.org on 25/05/2013

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